Related Experiment Videos
Emergency room practice among family physicians.
Journal of Medical Education
|November 1, 1985
Summary
Many family medicine physicians engage in emergency medicine. Physician attitudes, not practice details, determined involvement, with supplemental income being a key motivator for this emergency medicine work.
Area of Science:
- Medical specialties
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
Background:
- Family medicine physicians are trained in a broad scope of medical practice.
- The extent of their involvement in emergency medicine is not well-documented.
- Understanding this overlap is crucial for healthcare workforce planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the degree of involvement of family medicine physicians in emergency medicine.
- To identify factors influencing their participation in emergency care settings.
Main Methods:
- An 18-item self-report questionnaire was distributed to 73 family practice residency graduates.
- Data collected included practice details, emergency medicine experience, and attitudes toward emergency medicine.
- Sixty physicians responded, providing a response rate of approximately 82%.
Main Results:
- 10% of respondents were involved full-time in emergency medicine (emergency rooms or minor emergency clinics).
- 28% practiced emergency medicine part-time or sporadically.
- Supplemental income was the most frequently cited reason for engaging in emergency medicine.
Conclusions:
- A significant minority of family medicine physicians participate in emergency medicine.
- Physician attitudes are key predictors of emergency medicine involvement, more so than practice characteristics.
- Further research could explore the impact of this dual practice on patient care and physician satisfaction.